The 2026 TV Week Logie Awards have officially kicked off, with Robert Irwin at the helm.
Ahead of the ceremony, there was a lot of buzz online regarding whether the former I’m A Celeb co-host would be able to live up to the high standard comedian Sam Pang has set over the last three years.
But we think the 22-year-old certainly gave the traditional opening monologue his all!
For starters, there was an iconic cameo by Russell Coight and a dramatic musical number with Casey Donovan and the Dancing with the Stars cast helping out. Robert also took some not-so-subtle but hilarious digs at Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes and Karl Stefanovic (who is getting a lot of hits tonight!).
In case you missed it (or you just want to relive it), here’s the full transcript:
Robert Irwin’s opening monologue from the 2026 Logies:
Welcome to Australian television’s night of nights. It’s the 2026 TV Week Logie Awards! Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of this land and pay my respects to elders both past and present. I’ll extend that respect to all First Nations people here with us tonight.
It is genuinely so cool to be here. Are we ready for a big night?
So apparently, I am the youngest person ever to host these awards, which, honestly it is an honour, a massive honour. I grew up watching this ceremony. My mum would let me stay up my past my bedtime. I’d sit there in front of the telly, wide-eyed, just thinking, “Gee, Sam Pang is hilarious.”
A lot of people, they told me, you know, an award show host needs to be cynical, right? I just never bought into that. I’m a positive guy, which is why I took it at face value when Channel 10 told me that I’m A Celebrity was having a great season, and its future at the network was totally secure. Lesson learned.
I’m going to be honest, guys, initially, I wasn’t sure that I was the right fit for this gig. The Logies are not quite my natural habitat, you know. I tend to spend my time amongst apex predators, venomous snakes, and an environment that’s constantly under threat. So actually, I’m right at home here.
Now, 2026 is a very special year for the Logies because we’re celebrating 70 years of Aussie television, wow. And by the end of the night could very well be 71. As part of the celebrations, we’ll be counting down to the Australian television show you voted as the greatest of all time, and get this, there’s going to be not one, not two, but three incredible inductees into the Logies Hall of Fame. It’s an honour that my dad posthumously received back in 2007, and it was a moment that I still look back on very fondly. Guys, thank you.
What about a massive round of applause for all of the homegrown hits we’re celebrating here tonight? We’re talking Goolagong, RFDS, Married At First Sight, Narrow Road To The Deep North, Heartbreak High, Homebodies, and Have You Been Paying Attention?.
It has been absolutely a beaut bonza [sic] year for new shows, as well as beloved old formats. Beloved, of course, is a nice way of saying, let’s give Big Brother another go. And speaking of beloved shows, apparently I hear that Channel 10 is also developing a reboot of Hughesy, We Have A Problem. And I think it’s called No Seriously, Hughesy, We Have A Problem.
We’re about to get going, but before we do just a quick little bit of housekeeping: unfortunately, Karl Stefanovic didn’t RSVP tonight. Which means we didn’t have to hire quite as many bartenders, but we’ve kept him a spare seat, just in case. It’s over there to the right. The far right.
Guys, I’m pumped for an awesome night. Are we ready? Let’s get this thing going.
Watch the 2026 Logies now on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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